Now that you have been working on engaging your abdominals ‘in and up’ along with lifting the pelvic floor, it is time to get you moving with simple Pilates Mat work. Remember engaging these muscle groups are referred to as the Powerhouse. These are the first eight exercises in the Basic Mat repertoire.

Pull the right knee into your Powerhouse while keeping the left leg long on the mat. Give yourself a delicious stretch.

Lengthen bent leg to 90 degrees. Using the Powerhouse make eight circles with the leg by crossing the leg over your mid-line around and back up to 90 degrees. Reverse direction for another eight circles.

Engage the Powerhouse to keep your hips rooted into the mat. The focus of this exercise is pelvic stability.

Pull right knee back into the Powerhouse for a stretch, then lengthen to the mat.

Repeat on the other side.

After finishing the left leg, pull both knees into Powerhouse. Place hands behind knee and rock up to a seated position.

Engage your Powerhouse to curve the spine to form the letter “C” and lift the feet off the mat.

Hold the balance for five counts then lower feet to floor and balance between your sits bones and tail bone. If this bothers your tail bone, eliminate this exercise.

After five repetitions lie all the way back on the mat.

Stay Tuned! Tomorrow check back for the next 5 Pilates Mat Exercises! Aren’t these great???

Jami Bauer-Locricchio is a mother of two beautiful girls. She has been studying and teaching Pilates for a decade. Currently she is a freelance instructor teaching Pilates and Barre classes in Southeast Michigan. You can find out more about her wellness and Pilates including Mat Exercise of the Week by visiting www.LOVAstyle.me